the seventh letter-第8节
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Dionysios； 〃I have decided to remain。 But；〃 I continued； 〃I must ask
that you will not regard me as empowered to act for Dion； but will
along with me write a letter to him； stating what has now been
decided； and enquire whether this course satisfies him。 If it does
not； and if he has other wishes and demands； he must write particulars
of them as soon as possible； and you must not as yet take any hasty
step with regard to his interests。〃
This was what was said and this was the agreement which was made；
almost in these words。 Well； after this the trading…ships took their
departure； and it was no longer possible for me to take mine； when
Dionysios； if you please； addressed me with the remark that half the
property must be regarded as belonging to Dion and half to his son。
Therefore； he said； he would sell it； and when it was sold would
give half to me to take away； and would leave half on the spot for the
son。 This course； he said； was the most just。 This proposal was a blow
to me； and I thought it absurd to argue any longer with him；
however； I said that we must wait for Dion's letter； and then once
more write to tell him of this new proposal。 His next step was the
brilliant one of selling the whole of Dion's property； using his own
discretion with regard to the manner and terms of the sale and of
the purchasers。 He spoke not a word to me about the matter from
beginning to end； and I followed his example and never talked to him
again about Dion's affairs； for I did not think that I could do any
good by doing so。 This is the history so far of my efforts to come
to the rescue of philosophy and of my friends。
After this Dionysios and I went on with our daily life； I with my
eyes turned abroad like a bird yearning to fly from its perch； and
he always devising some new way of scaring me back and of keeping a
tight hold on Dion's property。 However； we gave out to all Sicily that
we were friends。 Dionysios； now deserting the policy of his father；
attempted to lower the pay of the older members of his body guard。 The
soldiers were furious； and； assembling in great numbers； declared that
they would not submit。 He attempted to use force to them； shutting the
gates of the acropolis； but they charged straight for the walls；
yelling out an unintelligible and ferocious war cry。 Dionysios took
fright and conceded all their demands and more to the peltasts then
assembled。
A rumour soon spread that Heracleides had been the cause of all
the trouble。 Hearing this； Heracleides kept out of the way。
Dionysios was trying to get hold of him； and being unable to do so；
sent for Theodotes to come to him in his garden。 It happened that I
was walking in the garden at the same time。 I neither know nor did I
hear the rest of what passed between them； but what Theodotes said
to Dionysios in my presence I know and remember。 〃Plato；〃 he said；
〃I am trying to convince our friend Dionysios that； if I am able to
bring Heracleides before us to defend himself on the charges which
have been made against him； and if he decides that Heracleides must no
longer live in Sicily； he should be allowed （this is my point） to take
his son and wife and sail to the Peloponnese and reside there；
taking no action there against Dionysios and enjoying the income of
his property。 I have already sent for him and will send for him again；
and if he comes in obedience either to my former message or to this
one…well and good。 But I beg and entreat Dionysios that； if anyone
finds Heracleides either in the country or here； no harm shall come to
him； but that he may retire from the country till Dionysios comes to
some other decision。 Do you agree to this？〃 he added； addressing
Dionysios。 〃I agree；〃 he replied； 〃that even if he is found at your
house； no harm shall be done to him beyond what has now been said。〃
On the following day Eurybios and Theodotes came to me in the
evening； both greatly disturbed。 Theodotes said； 〃Plato； you were
present yesterday during the promises made by Dionysios to me and to
you about Heracleides？〃 〃Certainly；〃 I replied。 〃Well；〃 he
continued； 〃at this moment peltasts are scouring the country seeking
to arrest Heracleides； and he must be somewhere in this neighbourhood。
For Heaven's sake come with us to Dionysios。〃 So we went and stood
in the presence of Dionysios； and those two stood shedding silent
tears； while I said： 〃These men are afraid that you may take strong
measures with regard to Heracleides contrary to what was agreed
yesterday。 For it seems that he has returned and has been seen
somewhere about here。〃 On hearing this he blazed up and turned all
colours； as a man would in a rage。 Theodotes； falling before him in
tears； took his hand and entreated him to do nothing of the sort。
But I broke in and tried to encourage him； saying： 〃Be of good
cheer； Theodotes； Dionysios will not have the heart to take any
fresh step contrary to his promises of yesterday。〃 Fixing his eye on
me； and assuming his most autocratic air he said； 〃To you I promised
nothing small or great。〃 〃By the gods；〃 I said； 〃you did promise
that forbearance for which our friend here now appeals。〃 With these
words I turned away and went out。 After this he continued the hunt for
Heracleides； and Theodotes； sending messages； urged Heracleides to
take flight。 Dionysios sent out Teisias and some peltasts with
orders to pursue him。 But Heracleides； as it was said； was just in
time； by a small fraction of a day； in making his escape into
Carthaginian territory。
After this Dionysios thought that his long cherished scheme not to
restore Dion's property would give him a plausible excuse for
hostility towards me； and first of all he sent me out of the
acropolis； finding a pretext that the women were obliged to hold a
sacrificial service for ten days in the garden in which I had my
lodging。 He therefore ordered me to stay outside in the house of
Archedemos during this period。 While I was there； Theodotes sent for
me and made a great outpouring of indignation at these occurrences；
throwing the blame on Dionysios。 Hearing that I had been to see
Theodotes he regarded this； as another excuse； sister to the
previous one； for quarrelling with me。 Sending a messenger he enquired
if I had really been conferring with Theodotes on his invitation
〃Certainly；〃 I replied； 〃Well；〃 continued the messenger； 〃he ordered
me to tell you that you are not acting at all well in preferring
always Dion and Dion's friends to him。〃 And he did not send for me
to return to his house； as though it were now clear that Theodotes and
Heracleides were my friends； and he my enemy。 He also thought that I
had no kind feelings towards him because the property of Dion was
now entirely done for。
After this I resided outside the acropolis among the mercenaries。
Various people then came to me； among them those of the ships' crews
who came from Athens； my own fellow citizens； and reported that I
was evil spoken of among the peltasts； and that some of them were
threatening to make an end of me； if they could ket hold of me
Accordingly I devised the following plan for my safety。
I sent to Archytes and my other friends in Taras； telling them the
plight I was in。 Finding some excuse for an embassy from their city；
they sent a thirty…oared galley with Lamiscos； one of themselves；
who came and entreated Dionysios about me； saying that I wanted to go；
and that he should on no account stand in my way。 He consented and
allowed me to go； giving me money for the journey。 But for Dion's
property I made no further request； nor was any of it restored。
I made my way to the Peloponnese to Olympia； where I found Dion a
spectator at the Games； and told him what had occurred。 Calling Zeus
to be his witness； he at once urged me with my relatives and friends
to make preparations for taking vengeance on Dionysios…our ground
for action being the breach of faith to a guest…so he put it and
regarded it； while his own was his unjust expulsion and banishment。
Hearing this； I told him that he might call my friends to his aid；
if they wished to go； 〃But for myself；〃 I continued； 〃you and others
in a way forced me to be the sharer of Dionysios' table and hearth and
his associate in the acts of religion。 He probably believed the
current slanders； that I was plotting with you against him and his
despotic rule； yet feelings of scruple prevailed with him； and he
spared my life。 Again； I am hardly of the age for being comrade in
arms to anyone； also I stand as a neutral between you； if ever you
desire friendship and wish to benefit one another； so long as you
aim at injuring one another； call others to your aid。〃 This I said；
because I was disgusted with my misguided journeyings to Sicily and my
ill…fortune there。 But they disobeyed me and would not listen to my
attempts at reconciliation； and so brought on their own heads all
the evils which have since taken place。 For if Diony
